How Difficult is it to get PhD in physics

wolfmax

We have obviously had different experiences. In my year I would say 25% want to do a PhD, 25% just did physics as route into finance and 50% don't know what they want to do. This may change now with the trebling of tuition fees, so new students want a set career plan before starting uni.
I definitely agree with this. Don't worry about how hard/easy something is to do, you'll probably change plans anyway. I couldn't see myself doing a PhD, now i'm applying. If you like physics study it and see where it takes you.

Lavabug

I agree, I was talking strictly about my home university. I should mention that I am currently at a uni in the UK as an exchange student and most students have no intention of pursuing science, which gets prompts the occasional joke from lecturers along the lines of "Since you all want to be consultants/work at a bank...".

Note that I'm not saying you'll eventually lose the desire to do it no matter what, it's just that it may be too soon to be worrying about it before you've had some real deal exposure to physics. It's just that sometimes people don't have enough motivations to pursue science at the professional/graduate level.

I always wanted to do a phd in my chosen field since high school and while I lost sight of it for a few years (which I spent getting a technical chemistry degree and 2 years in Chem undergrad), I eventually went into physics and right now the possibility of getting into a phd program is a very real one (and I am more excited than ever).